Scarf



W. TOMARKIN June 17, 1952 SCARF Filed Dec. 24, 1949 Patented June 17, V1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCARF Wanda Tomarkn, Rockaway Park, N. Y. y

Application December 24, 1949, Serial No. 134,990

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to articles of wearing apparel such as scarfs. More particularly, the invention concerns scarfs which may be utilized in the form of a head dress, neckwear or as a sash.

`Conventional handkerchief scarfs in the usual form of squares or rectangles, are formed from thin fabrics of silk, cotton, rayon or the like which are characterized by being of a limp nature. Such scarfs have little or no stiffness and when used as a head dress or covering. do not lend themselves to draping or shaping of the fabric to the head. With end portions of the scarf used for tieing purposes, the scarf must closely conform to the head of the `wearer and cannot be shaped to the head of a particular wearer. The limpness of the scarf material appears to accentuate a tendency for head coverings formed from such a scarf, to move rearwardly olf the head in the presence of a stiff breeze or wind. Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved scarf which is formed from a limp fabric but includes stiffened portions on selected areas thereof, whereby the scarf can be folded or otherwise converted into a head covering which may be shaped and draped relative to the head of the wearer and will retain its position on the head in the presence of a stiif breeze or Wind.

When using conventional, limp fabric scarfs as a neck covering or muler, the scarf when arranged about the neck in an upstanding position, has a tendency to droop and to expose the neck. Accordingly, another object of this invention is to provide an improved scarf of the character described wherein stiffened portions are so located on the scarf as to provide the folded scarf with a portion which may be disposed about the neck in an upstanding condition, such upstanding portion being adapted to resist drooping, the stiffened portions of the scarf being of a flexible character which permits the scarf to be readily converted and utilized as other forms of wearing apparel.

A further object of this invention is to provide av scarf formed of a limp fabric in a shape having greater extensibility in one direction than in other directions, together with inextensible tieing means secured to an intermediate portion of the fabric and extending along the direction of greater extensibility for securing the scarf in place, the scarf including portions which are movable relative to the tieing means for draping purposes when the scarf is Worn as a head covering, neck piece or the like.

Yet another object of .this invention is to pruvide an improved scarf of the character described, Awhich is of simple construction, is economical to manufacture, is readily converted from one formrof use to another and is practical to a high degree in use.

-Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown illustrative embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a scarf embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a scarf showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a scarf showing a further modification of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a scarf, showing still a further modification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 designates a scarf embodying the invention. The same comprises a square or rectangular sheet of fabric II, which may be hemmed at the edges. The fabric II may be of silk, rayon. cotton or the like and is characterized by being of a thin, limp nature. The fabric may be imprinted or otherwise decorated or ornamented, in a manner well known in the art. p

Means is provided for stiffening one or more selected areas of the scarf. To this end there is provided stiifening means generally designated as I2. Such stiffening means comprises a triangular shaped fabric member I'3, which may be of the same type of material as fabric II and having the same ornamental pattern. The fabric member I3 may be hemmed at the edges to prevent raveling. Secured to the underside of member I3 is a triangular shaped fabric element I4 which may be buckram or other sized fabric which is flexible but of a stiff nature. The edges of element I4 are disposed slightly inwardly of the corresponding edges of member I3. The element I4 and member I3 may be secured together at the corners by stitching I5.

The stiffening means I2 is located in a corner of the fabric I I with the element I4 disposed between fabric IIfand member i3. The stiffening means maybe detachably attached to fabric I I by means of snap fasteners I6. One element of the snap fasteners I6 is secured at each of the corners of the stiffening means while the complementary elements are secured to fabric I I in appropriate positions. In lieu of snap fasteners, single stitches may be used to attach the stiffening means to the fabric II. In either case, the stiffening means may be readily removed from the fabric I I to allow washing or cleaning of the same, as well as converting the fabric Il to a conventional, limp scarf.

It will be apparent that the scarf I Will not materially differ in appearance from a conventional, limp scarf. However, the stiffening means I2 provides results not found in-conventional scarfs, when the scarf I0 is used .as an article of wearing apparel such as a head Vcovering, neck wear or as a sash. When using the scarf I0 as a head covering, the fabric I I is folded along a diagonal line interconnecting the 'nonstiffened corners of the fabric. One of the thus folded portions of the fabric may be further folded in a manner to bring 4the stiffened corner portion to a for-ward position -disposed intermediate the corners at the diagonal ends of the folded fabric. The folded scarf may then be positioned on the head with the stiffened portion located at the top-of the head. The tieing ends of the scarf are brought below the chin, in the usual manner, -to -secure the scarf in place. The'stiffened portion 'may be shaped by hand to give the scarf a desired configuration about the head. The element I4, being of `a sized fabric, lends itself to such shaping operation.

It has been found that .the inclusion of stiffening means in the scarf construction provides for a head covering which is not readily dislodged from the headV in a stiff breeze. In addition, the stiifening means provides an anchorage for a hat pin which may be passed through the top of the head covering. With conventional, limp scarfs, a hat pin passing through the-fabric is readily dislodged.

The scarf Ie may also be folded to yprovide ya neck covering or muffler. In this case, the folds are so arranged that the stiffening means is located in an intermediate portion of the folded structure. The folded scarf -may be arranged about the neck, with the stifiened `por-tion keeping the neck covering portion -in van yupstanding position. The neck covering `portion vwill .not droop to 'expose the neck, as is often the Vcase with conventional, limp scarfs. -A similarly folded scarf construction may be used as a sash or the like, the stiffened mid portion serving to retain the transverse portions of the scarf yin extended position.

The stiffening means for fabric I-I .maytake forms other than that of a triangle and may be located in positions other than cornersof the fabric. In Fg, the-stiffening means 12a may be of square shape, Vcomprising a squareof'lirnp fabric i3d. with a square of stiifened .fabric,.not shown, secured to the yunderside thereof. The stiffening'meansmay be arranged `with thesides thereof disposed atan angle to thesides ofthe fabric I l and may-be detachably securedby snap fasteners AIG -at the corners thereof. This construction may also be folded to fprovidea head covering, a. muiier or a sash, with thestiffened portion suitably disposed 'so as toimpart the desired characteristics to -thescarf asfa whole,as described above.

It is understoodthat the stiffening meansmay take other geometric shapes and may be associated with scarfs of non-rectilinear shape such as elliptical shapes and the like.

In lieu of stiifening means which is separable from the scarf fabric, the fabric may be stiffened at selected areas by applying a coating I1 of glazing material to a corner portion, as shown in Fig. 4. Such glazing material is preferably of a transparent character and non-injurious to the fabric to which it is applied. 'Colorless plastic solutions, sizes or the like may be used. It is understood that such coatings may be applied to predetermined areas and in predetermined geometric shapes.

In conventional scarfs, the fabric displays residual extensibility in a direction diagonally of the weave thereof. Such extensibility usually results in a loosening of the scarf when used as a headcovering, after the scarf has been apparently tightly tied under the chin of the wearer. As shown in Fig. 5, the scarf II is provided with inextensible tieing means in the form of a tape I8. The tape I8 is located on the fabric along the direction of greatest extensibility. The mid portion of tape IB is anchored against longitudinal movement by stitching the same to the stiffening means at I9. The unsecured portions of the tape are restrained against `lateral movement by being threaded through perforations 28 formed in the fabric II and extending towards apposite corners.

It is apparent that the use of the tape I8 in securing the scarf in place when lused vas a head covering or the like, eliminates any vpossibility of extension of the scarf fabric which would loosen the head covering with respect `to the head of vthe wearer. Additionally, the scarf fabric is adapted to be moved relative .to the tape, to ,permit shaping and draping the scarf fabric relative to the head of the wearer. Similarly, the scarf maybe `ruilied when used as a neck covering or muffler. YIt is vunderstood that the inextensible -tieing tape I8 may be used in conjunction with scarfs of various geometrical shapes wherein the fabric has greater extensibility in one direction than in other directions.

It will thus be .seen that there .are provided scarfs in which the several objectsof `this invention are achieved and which is welladapted .to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible vvembodiments might be made in the above described invention, and as various changes might be made inthe embodiments abovesetforth, it is to be understoodthat all matter rherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted .as illustrative and not in Ya limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. -Ascari comprising alimp fabric'piece which sextensible in one direction and is substantially inextensible in another direction, Va stiffening element secured to a lselectedarea ofsaid piece located inwardly of the edges thereof, elongated. inextensible tieing means having a portion thereof attached to said 'stiifening element .with'other portions in Contact with said fabric piece and extending in the direction ofextensibility of said fabricfpiece, andmeans for retaining said tieing means against lateral movement-while permitting longitudinal `movement relative to contacting portions of said fabricpiece.

v2. A scarf comprising a limpfabric piece which has greater extensibility in one direction .than in a direction at an angle 45 thereto, vlinextensible, elongated tieing means disposed in contact with said fabric piece and extending along the direction of greater extensibility and means for retaining said tieing means against lateral moveu ment while permitting relative. movement between said tieing means and said fabric piece longitudinally of said tieing means.

3. A head covering comprising a scarf of limp fabric incapable of retaining a bent shape when disposed on a flat surface and including opposite end portions for securing the covering on the. head of a wearer, and a non-resilient fabric member having a stiffness greater than that of said limp fabric and capable of being bent into a given shape and retaining said shape at al1 times secured to a selected area of said limp fabric such that said member is located along an edge of the head covering in use, whereby said scarf may be manipulated into a predetermined shape on the head of the wearer and retained in .I

said shape.

4. A scarf comprising a limp Woven fabric incapable of retaining a bent shape when disposed on a dat surface, and a non-resilient woven fabric member having a stiffness greater than that of said limp fabric and capable of being bent into a given shape and retaining said shape at all times secured to a selected area of said limp fabric such that upon folding said scarf to desired form, said member is located along an edge of the folded scarf, whereby said scarf may be manipulated into a predetermined shape and retained in said shape.

WANDA TOMARKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 830,482, Lungren Sept. 4, 1906 1,263,958 Strachan Apr. 23, 1918 1,840,557 Beach Jan. 12, 1932 1,970,495 Deich Aug. 14, 1934 l2,950,170 Fortune Aug. 4, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 128,448 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1928 

